On the heels of this year's Sundance Film Festival, one of the standout films from last year's festival is finally being released  in cinemas.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE was noticeable for several reasons including the impressive feature debut of Sean Durkin, another amazing performance by John Hawkes, but perhaps most of all by the introduction of Elizabeth Olsen. Sister of the Olsen Twins, Lizzie may have been born into a showbiz world but her focus has been more towards non-sitcom fare like independent cinema and performance. Lizzie was back in Sundance this year with two more films, the terrific LIBERAL ARTS and the disappointing RED LIGHTS, but it's safe to say that since last year, she has arrived.

We spoke with Sean and Lizzie at the Cannes Film Festival, where the film about the psychological repercussions of a cult-like existence found a whole new audience and international appeal. Listen to Sean explain how the story came in part from the experience of some close friends, then watch Lizzie reveal how she needed to understand the psychological transformation her character endures and how she came to terms with the variety of abuse that may exist in cults.

Andrew Warne investigates J. EDGAR, a biopic about the first Head of the FBI - J. Edgar Hoover.

Leonardo DiCaprio portrays this intriguing man under the precise direction of Clint Eastwood. And even though it doesn't paint a necessarily pretty picture of Hoover (or of an aging Leonardo!) it is a fascinating, and slightly unsettling, insight into the power and corruption that is prevalent in these official institutions.
But despite this Hoover did leave a remarkable legacy, that of the FBI. He dedicated 50 years of his life to setting up the Bureau and developed many of the investigative techinques and forensic practices that we take for granted today, including finger printing.   

Leonardo DiCaprio talks of lure of playing a man who spent his whole life infiltrating the lives of others while protecting the privacy of his own, with rumours of his questioned sexuality with his 'number two man' Clyde Tolson. Even though there was never any proof of their relationship, the film is unambigious about what its preference is.

Once again DiCaprio fully inhabits this character and woes Andrew with his knowledge of both Hoover and American political history. Armie Hammer, who played (both) twins in 'The Social Network' backs him up with an equally superb performance as Tolson, as does Australia's Naomie Watts who plays Hoover's personal assistant Helen Gandy.

Watts marvels at the loyalty of this woman, who was Hoover's secretary until the day he died, shredding  files, turning a blind eye and keeping all his wrong doings underwraps. Even 5 years following Hoover's death, when she had nothing to lose or lives to destroy, her testimony still (incorrectly) claimed nothing unethical took place in the offices of J. Edgar Hoover. 

If you can get past the questionable make up of all three actors aging into their twilight years, this really is a very interesting observation of one of America's most powerful lawmen.